On Friday, tens of thousands of supporters will pay their ultimate respects to Franz Beckenbauer at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Beckenbauer died on January 7 in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 78, and was buried in Munich five days later in a funeral attended by close friends and family.
The public will have the opportunity to say farewell during Friday’s ceremony, which will take place at Bayern Munich’s 75,000-seat home stadium, with which Beckenbauer will be eternally identified.
Thousands are scheduled to attend the event, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder, and honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who played with Beckenbauer in the 1960s and 1970s.
The two then collaborated to grow the club into Germany’s wealthiest and most prominent.
The football world will also be present, with representatives from European powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Beckenbauer will be joined by former teammates Paul Breitner, Guenter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, and Rainer Bonhof, as well as numerous players he guided to the 1990 World Cup.
Lothar Matthaeus, Andreas Brehme, Klaus Augenthaler, Pierre Littbarski, Guido Buchwald, Olaf Thon, Rudi Völler, and Karlheinz Riedle are anticipated to take their seats in the stands.
Former Munich managers Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, Felix Magath, and Niko Kovac will all pay their respects.
Franz constructed this home.
Aside from being one of Germany’s biggest stadiums, the site selection is suitable considering Beckenbauer’s major involvement in its establishment.
During Beckenbauer’s president, Bayern relocated from its Olympic Stadium to the Allianz Arena.
Regardless of Bayern’s history at the site, the relocation north from the 1972 Olympics stadium to a contemporary, world-class arena was a significant step towards assuring the club’s future as one of Europe’s powerhouses.
Bayern has won two of its six Champions League championships since moving into the stadium, and the team is presently on an 11-game Bundesliga winning run.
Beckenbauer’s influence as an administrator paralleled his achievement as a player and coach.
Beckenbauer was born in Munich and helped Bayern, the city’s second-best side behind rivals 1860, gain promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time.
Beckenbauer went on to win league and cup victories at Munich, as well as three consecutive European Cups, which served as the predecessor to the present Champions League.
He has won World Cups as both a player and a coach. He was named the world’s finest player after winning the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976.